Van Dijk pens five-year Saints deal

Virgil van Dijk: New Southampton signing

The 24-year-old has passed a medical and signed a five-year deal at St Mary’s ending his two-year spell at Parkhead.

Van Dijk, who has been tracked by Southampton for the last 18 months, joined Celtic in 2013 after three years with Groningen and has won two successive league titles and the Scottish Cup with the Bhoys.

Meanwhile, Saints forward Emmanuel Mayuka, 24, has left to join Metz on a three-year deal.

The Zambia international, who was top scorer at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, joined Saints from Young Boys in the summer of 2012 and scored one goal in 19 appearances.

He spent the 2013-14 season on loan at French side Lorient and will return to France with Ligue 2 table toppers Metz.